Lionel train shop in Dallas TX?

Go to Lionel.com and: 

"find an authorized dealer"

Dealers near Allen, Texas:

LINK IS HERE

Ed,

  The HobbyTown USA in Ron's link is the closest to Allen.  When you say 0-31..are you wanting traditional tubular track or Fastrack?

Last time I was there for other things, their track assortment was LOW, and I don't think they had O-31 Fastrack, and had almost no tubular.

Discount Model Trains is your best bet.  They are primarily HO and N, but they do have a decent selection of Lionel stuff, including most of the Fastrack line.   They also have decent stock of tubular.  Call them first, though.   Nice guys.

Good Day,

I agree..............call Discount Model Trains in Addition!

Regards,

Swafford

  http://www.mapquest.com/maps?c...Addison&state=TX

The last time that I was at Discount, their 3 rail selection was pretty limited. They are primarily an HO and N scale shop.

It's pretty amazing that a huge city like Dallas, with lots of households that have "hobby cash," no longer has a really good 3 rail store. 

Midlothian Hobbies is probably going to have the best selection of 3 rail items, in stock, in the Dallas area. There major focus is on 3 rail.

 Not a bad drive either, if you watch what time you are traveling there and back.

Jeff

Well, it's no where near Allen, but in Hurst there's Model Train Crossing.  They usually have a very large selection of tubular, FasTrack, and Atlas. They usually also have some clean but used tubular pieces.  Hurst is one of the "Mid-Cities" that are between Ft Worth and Dallas.  Google Maps says it's 47 mins for the trip. Of course, if you do it at rush hour, I'd put it at about 1.7 hrs.  If you leave after 8 AM and plan to get back to Allen by 3, you'll be fine. Might be an hour, but no real problem.

If you're looking for something specific, I'd call before driving from Allen.

Just for memory sake, their used to be a Really Nice Lionel Layout in a Huge Department Store named, Cullum and Borum Hardware, I think? Either way, in the 50's, They had a really Beautuful Lionel Train Layout in the middle of the store....I do not know if this store is still in business, but, if One or More of You fellows from the Dallas area read this Please chime in....It's a Display that as a kid, made a Huge impression in my mind, and turning 71 soon, That Memory still Lingers...Good Luck finding your track...There should be many TCA and LCCA Members in the Neighborhood. Happy Railroading.

I've bought from the Midlothian store before, but it's quite a haul from Allen.  Discount's the closest to you, just give them a call to see if they have what you need.

I've never been to the Hurst store, I'll have to drive over there sometime.

Unfortunately, for our size, the Dallas area doesn't have many choices.

Considering the size of the Dallas-Fort Worth "Metroplex," there really isn't a train store that has a sizeable current inventory.  In addition to those already mentioned, there was a store called Wild Bill's on Shady Grove Rd. in Irving (in between Fort Worth and Dallas.)  They have a lot of new old stock Lionel at close to original retail prices.  The primary foci of the store are R/C racing and die-cast car models, so the trains are lost in the clutter.  But if they are still in business it might be worth a visit.  -Ted

It's a good thing you're going traditional also. Good luck finding any scale equipment in DFW and probably Texas for that matter.

I agree. Never could figure out why, especially with all the Yankees that have moved down here in the past 30 years.  And I are one of them.  You'd think that we would have brought more of the hobby aspect with us.  Of course, 30 years ago there *were* a lot more hobby shops in the area. Guess it's just like the rest of the country, the LHS  has suffered.

Google Maps shows they are still there, and current Google reviews are posted.  I'll have to check 'em out. Only about 1/2 hr from the house.  Why I've never heard of them, I'll never know....

I have found most all hobby shops in the greater D/FW area do not advertise.   You have to know someone who knows someone who has found a hobby shops to let you know about it.

There used ot be a wonderfully stocked, old fashion train store in Dallas on Skillman off I-635.   Collectible Trains and Toys.  They moved many years ago to the design district near Addison, and finally to their ranch home out in Forney.     The owner passed away a while back and they auctioned off all the cool old stuff they had.

Despite the huge population here, HO and N rule the day in trains out here.

Discount Model Trains is always busy, especially on Friday and Saturdays, with all ages of train enthusiasts buying HO and N.

I just found a newer place called T and T Hobbies in Plano, on 15th street.   Their web page says they now have new Lionel trains and accessories in stock.   Looks like a quick trip is in order this afternoon.    I'll report back for all of us Dallas/Ft Worth, etc.. people.

 If you find their website, keep in mind they started as an R/C car and plane place, and are quite successful.....   They just started getting into O gauge....

It is sad, but most of the premier hobby shops in DFW are now gone.  Collectible Trains and Bobby Hall's are both gone.  I think the relative absence of railroads in Texas coupled with only 2 weeks of cold weather a year makes the per capita model train hobby somewhat anemic down here.  For me, the hot summer weather drives me indoors to play with trains or go to a train show.  I live in the 11th largest city in the country and it has not had a train show in the last 15 years or so, or a Lionel dealer in that period either.

Okay forget T and T in Plano for Train stuff.

They have 3 Lionel Sets, and 2 carded 4 packs of Fastrack 36 curves.

It is a nice store, but 99.999% R/C racing, both electric and gas powered.

I was able to pick up some new shocks for my Team Associated RC10 off road racer

Thanks guys.  I found the O-31 tubular curved track I needed at Discount Model Trains.  I'll be able to complete the 4x10 layout before returning to Virginia tomorrow.  Being an O scale 2 raider for 40+ years I forgot how much of a P. I A. it to custom cut fitter sections with an ordinary hack saw . 

Ed Rappe

HMMMMMM....Perhaps the DFW area could use a new model train store in the area?   I certainly wouldn't mind spending winters down there, and summer there would be spent inside anyhow.  Its amazing to me how rapidly the area is growing and the economy seems to be really good there.

There must be a bunch of railroaders in the area with the BNSF offices there, a great railway museum being built in Frisco and not to forget the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and the TRE service between Fort Worth and Dallas.

Yes, come to DFW Texas!

A good place to visit if you have the time is  TW TrainWorx in Dallas.  They make layouts and a great folks to do business with but they are not really a Hobby Shop, they have some great displays.

Brent